Continuing my final 2011-related countdown: my FAVORITE pieces of the year,  stating:

• Why it’s a favorite that I want to play
• Why I don’t play it all the time
• When and how I’m planning to play it next

#8

Amadeus Cho (Incredible Hulk 027)

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM EVERY WEEK:

Ever since his introduction in a nifty 8-page story in the 2004 Amazing Fantasy anthology, Amadeus Cho has been a favorite character. In a comic world full of world-smashing Hulks and jaw-busting Hercs, this little Korean-American guy keeps pace by being the 7th (or 8th) smartest man in the world and able to parlay those brains in the physical world without the benefit of the money and tech that a Reed Richards or Tony Stark can leverage. This piece represents that pretty well by not only being loaded with Outwit and a bit of Probability Control, but also having a low-damage Penetrating Blast SP.

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WHY I DON’T:

He works best with a Hercules, and although the Lion of Olympus made the Top 10 list, he’s not a favorite. Cho’s 59 points are also a little steep for his fragility and short life.

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I’M PLAYING HIM NEXT:

He’s got the Avengers keyword, so he’s probably going on the next non-movie-inspired one I play. But I’m really holding out for the next Celebrity team to put him and Herc on.

Speaking of Avengers, the next person on the list is one. See you the–

Wait. What’s this?!?

Gimli (Lord of the Rings 005)

As I’ve been cobbling this list of favorites together, a short but doughty red-bearded dwarf kept clamoring for a spot. “But,” I argued, “I’ve only played it once and never done it again. I haven’t even planned any teams for him to be on. How can he possibly make the list?”

Then another part of me argues back, “Don’t you always wish you’d thought of him, afterward? And haven’t you wanted to run him again, frequently?

“Isn’t the only reason he hasn’t been played more often is because of A) a dearth of LOTR-centric events coupled with B) your own desire to play any and all unplayed figures in your collection before returning to any given well?”

Yes, dammit. YES. True to his stubborn dwarf nature, Gimli refuses to go away, and thus finds himself a surprise tie with Amadeus Cho just as I was finishing the young genius’ writeup.

WHY I WANT TO PLAY HIM EVERY WEEK:

C’mon, he’s a dwarf. The jokes write themselves. More to the point, I always liked Gimli in the books and films (I secretly rooted for him in his body-count contest with Legolas). He’s a playable piece, too, with the stoutest defense of any of the Fellowship — even before factoring in his Epic Action trait, “Hold Your Ground!” granting +2 DV for himself and pals for a round —  and great melee ability in an Indomitable, quasi-Incapping package.

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WHY I DON’T:

The aforementioned lack of LOTR games are one reason — especially since at 107 points, he begins to feel a bit inefficient with an opening 9 AV (though that improves further in his dial) and downright overcosted when he can’t use his Epic power. He’s also quite slow and may have trouble getting into fighting range as a result. Finally, he’s stuck with just one useable keyword, Warrior, which tends to be a bit light in dwarf-tossing (TK) or toting (taxi) methods.

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WHEN I’M PLAYING HIM NEXT:

So hard to say, with the rarity of “Rings” games in these Gauntlet-obsessed days. I’m pretty hesitant to run the Fellowship in a standard Golden Age game. But he’ll be a lock for a “Fighting With Your Hands Full” scenario.

OK…that digression over, my next favorite also shares a quality with Gimli. Check out #7 next week!